Matthijs de Ligt has revealed he wants “to stay” at Juventus “for a long time” and said he’s “proud to wear the shirt”.
The Dutch defender has played 17 games since his move from Ajax and was put under pressure to perform from the off when Giorgio Chiellini injured himself in the first game of the season.
Since then, the 20-year-old has received both criticism and praise for his performances with the Old Lady and he has admitted it’s “a big challenge”.
Matthijs de Ligt has revealed he wants “to stay” at Juventus “for a long time” and said he’s “proud to wear the shirt”.
The Dutch defender has played 17 games since his move from Ajax and was put under pressure to perform from the off when Giorgio Chiellini injured himself in the first game of the season.
Since then, the 20-year-old has received both criticism and praise for his performances with the Old Lady and he has admitted it’s “a big challenge”.
“I was very proud of Juventus’ interest, it was an honour for me,” De Ligt told JTV. “I’ve always liked Juventus and I’m proud to wear this shirt.
“It’s a big challenge. Turin is completely different from Amsterdam; I have seen a lot of interesting places. I hope to stay here for a long time.”
The Dutch defender reveals it has been a year to remember, as he was rewarded with a move to the Allianz Stadium after an unforgettable season with Ajax.
His performances last year, helped Ajax win the double in Holland and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, whilst he was part of the national team to finish as runners-up to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League.
After a successful breakthrough season, De Ligt was awarded the Kopa Trophy during the Ballon d’Or ceremony earlier this month.
“Little De Ligt dreamt of becoming a professional player, but if they had told me that I would have won the Kopa Trophy, the Golden Boy and played in a semi-final of the Champions League at 20, I would have lied to myself,” he said. “I hope to make all my dreams come true.”
He wants to learn from his more experienced teammates and said he has the “mentality” needed to play for Juventus.
“I train with the best in the world and I feel like I’m improving every day,” he added. “[Leonardo] Bonucci and I are trying to form a good pair. We understand and complement each other.
“It counts that I want to learn and improve, winning many things. If you play for Juventus, you have to win everything. This is also the mentality I have.”